Everton To Beat Tottenham In The Race To Sign Chelsea Striker Romelu Lukaku

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Everton is in pole position to sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku permanent basis. The club manager Roberto Martinez is hopeful of qualifying for the Champions League next season and ready to extend the stay of Belgian at Merseyside.

Belgian daily Nieuwsblad has claimed today that English newspaper The Daily Mail picked up a story yesterday with the news that Chelsea’s Lukaku prepared for 20 million pounds (24 million euros) move to Tottenham Hotspur: A news that is according Lukaku’s manager Christophe Henrotay ‘nonsense‘.

Lukaku has spent the season on loan at Everton, scoring 13 goals in 26 games, but is set to be part of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s clear-out of his forward players.

Nieuwsblad has reported today that Lukaku’s agent Henrotay is in talks with Tottenham, but he also maintains close ties with Lukaku’s current club Everton. The blue club from Liverpool would be delighted to take the Belgian from Chelsea. And more importantly: Lukaku wants to stay at Everton. The Toffees play against Arsenal on Sunday, in what is termed as a crucial match for fourth place and a Champions League ticket. The prospect to take part in the Champions League for Everton is more appealing to Lukaku Everton than Tottenham move.

This is what Lukaku’s agent said in an interview yesterday: “I’m looking for a club for Romelu. And yes, I’ve talked to Daniel Levy once, but that doesn’t mean Romelu will definitely join Spurs. That’s not a talking point at this moment.

“There aren’t 20 teams that can afford to buy Romelu. He won’t go from Everton to, let’s say, Swansea. There’s also a difference between Everton that plays against relegation and an Everton that fights for European football.”

Romelu Lukaku has scored twelve times this season, almost as much as all the Chelsea strikers together (fifteen goals). Yet, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is not a fan of the rough Belgian. Londoners are looking for a different type of striker for next season. If there is enough money in the offering, they are willing to let Lukaku go.

Lukaku said in February that he was determined to succeed at Chelsea but, although Blues manager Jose Mourinho has made no secret of his lack of faith in the strikers currently at his disposal, he has been publicly critical of the Belgium international and appears to be willing to cash in.

If Everton can not make it to the Champions League, then Tottenham is the front runner for the signature of the 20 year old. The Spurs have once again sit up a bad year, despite an investment of more than one hundred million players. And Next season will almost certainly see Dutchman Louis van Gaal as their coach. Chairman Daniel Levy reiterated yesterday itself that Tottenham this summer will strengthen some ‘key areas’ and thereby money is not a problem.

THT Verdict:

Talks over a move to Everton will have to wait until the club know which, if any, European competition they are playing in next season. They currently lie fifth in the Premier League, four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with a game in hand.